Italy, Hungary and Cyprus want Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia
Italy and Hungary want the European Union to seek an end to the fire in Ukraine and peace talks with Russia, although this conflicts with other EU countries that intend to take a hard line on Moscow at next week’s summit.
This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to Reuters.
The draft of the final May says that the EU, which will take place 30-31, says that the European Union “steadfast Union is obliged to help Ukraine realize its inalienable right to self-defense against Russian aggression.” It does not mention peace talks.
It was also noted that the EU “remains committed to strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
At a meeting of EU envoys on Friday, the Italian ambassador proposed changes to the text to include references to peace talks and immediate ceasefire as one of the EU’s top goals.
This proposal was supported by Hungary and Cyprus, which are most critical of the new EU sanctions package against Russia, which has been blocked for several weeks due to internal differences in the European Union.
Hungary opposes the oil embargo, and Cyprus is concerned about the ban on selling real estate to Russian citizens.
Speaking at a forum in Davos on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took a tough stance on Russia and did not mention peace talks.
“Ukraine must win this war and Putin’s aggression is a strategic failure,” she said.
According to diplomats, the Baltic states and Poland are among the strongest supporters of the hard line, and Latvia still needs clear wording on strengthening military support.
Last week, Italy proposed a peace plan that includes the UN, the EU and the OB as mediators in the field.
